Gulf region's burgeoning automation sector creates new industry platform

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is ushering a new manufacturing era based on a modern industrial society, as the region's only conference and exhibition dedicated to automation is launched in Dubai with the backing of global industry leaders. The announcement of SPS Automation Middle East 2018 on Feb. 22, arrives at a pivotal time in the GCC automation sector, and comes as regional countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia take a lead role in adopting new manufacturing technologies. According to reports, the UAE is looking to invest $75 billion in the manufacturing sector by 2025, leading to automation requirements for various industries such as packaging, construction, oil and gas, food and beverage, paints and coatings, Nano-sensors and healthcare. Saudi too has big economic diversification plans with automation at the core, as highlighted by its 2017 announcement to build NEOM, a $500 billion, 26,500sqm metropolis on the Red Sea where all services and processes will be 100 percent fully automated. A key regional challenge though has been creating sufficient automation awareness, with global manufacturers calling out for a dedicated industry platform and focal point centered on the latest trends and technologies across all areas of industrial or building automation.